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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have cried in asda

705 replies

Littlemissdan · 02/04/2022 20:39

Is it just me that the whole cost of living thing is getting too much for? I actually had a (very small and no one watching!) cry in asda when I saw some reduced bakery goods because I didn’t know if I could afford them alongside my entire smartprice shop. £30 I had for a 2 week shop including nappies, and it just broke me that I actually had to wonder if I could afford a 55p treat for my kids. I can’t believe we’re living like this, 3 years ago we were comfortable and now I’m relying on the free school meals half term vouchers.
Not really looking for advice or budgeting advice here, just a bit of solidarity really :(

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
GrandTheftWalrus · 02/04/2022 22:11

I'm worried about money etc now. We went to get our 10 month old milk today and its went up from 7.99 to 8.49. Another shop has put it up from 10 to 13.50. 6.50 for 24 nappies. How is anyone able to afford that?

PenStation · 02/04/2022 22:12

Sympathies to everyone in this situation. It’s truly shit in such a wealthy country that it should come to this.

Girlmumdogmumboymum · 02/04/2022 22:12

OP, sorry did you say ypu don't have an aldi nearby?
If you do have one, please reply to my message, I have an Aldi voucher that might come in handy. Our local Aldi has had problems keeping meat fresh so I won't use the voucher I have.
Please let me know if it could be of some use.
I remember someone saying they don't have Aldi/Lidl nearby and have gone back but can't find the post now!

ReadyToMoveIt · 02/04/2022 22:14

@Girlmumdogmumboymum

OP, sorry did you say ypu don't have an aldi nearby? If you do have one, please reply to my message, I have an Aldi voucher that might come in handy. Our local Aldi has had problems keeping meat fresh so I won't use the voucher I have. Please let me know if it could be of some use. I remember someone saying they don't have Aldi/Lidl nearby and have gone back but can't find the post now!
It was me who said that, not the OP, so hopefully she has one nearby and can use the voucher!
GrandTheftWalrus · 02/04/2022 22:14

I have an aldi beside me

RedHelenB · 02/04/2022 22:15

@GrandTheftWalrus

A woman moaned at me taking 3 packs of 20p chicken, it was for at least 4 meals for the week and I had £5 to my name for shopping. I snapped at her and told her it was to feed my dd and not everyone has money.
She may have been in the same position as you.
SmellyOldOwls · 02/04/2022 22:15

@Londoncallingme

Get an electric bike for work?
How is she going to pay for that?!
Original poster
Littlemissdan · 02/04/2022 22:15

@GrandTheftWalrus

I'm worried about money etc now. We went to get our 10 month old milk today and its went up from 7.99 to 8.49. Another shop has put it up from 10 to 13.50. 6.50 for 24 nappies. How is anyone able to afford that?
I don’t know if you’re already using it/are in a position to get it, but we used Aldi formula. Regulations are so tight on formula that there’s not much difference between them. Sending hugs, I was terrified at the start of the pandemic about not being able to get formula, it’s awful.
OP posts:
wintersparkle1987 · 02/04/2022 22:18

I'm so sorry. Have you got the healthy start card? You can get one if you are on universal credit and got child benefit. They load £34 a month on mine.. better than nothing.

Peppaismyrolemodel · 02/04/2022 22:19

You are doing so so well. Your kids will not miss out because you are the kind of mum who manages to feed them, house then and love through an incredibly hard thing. They will grow up in awe of you and have the skills to manage their own finances. You are giving them the most tremendously valuable thing.
I don’t doubt that you are budgeting as hard as you can. Start phoning people for help now- school, food banks, citizens advice, churches and mosques. You will find kindness in amongst the inevitable shit.

SmellyOldOwls · 02/04/2022 22:19

Try the Facebook page feed yourself for £1 a day for ideas OP. It's so hard I know x

Lorw · 02/04/2022 22:19

@GrandTheftWalrus

I'm worried about money etc now. We went to get our 10 month old milk today and its went up from 7.99 to 8.49. Another shop has put it up from 10 to 13.50. 6.50 for 24 nappies. How is anyone able to afford that?
The milk we buy has gone up £1 literally overnight from 11.50 to 12.50.

In terms of nappies if you have an Aldi near by there’s are fantastic! for example a 44 pack of size 4s is £2.79. Wipes are great too.

clairethewitch70 · 02/04/2022 22:19

Do you have a garden? Could you pick up some cheap seeds or fruit bushes, strawberry plants etc?

American style pancakes are cheap and filling. Also when oven is on use it for more than one thing. I do one pot meals and bake some cookies at the same time for example. Reduced veg can be made into a soup and frozen. Use cleaned peelings and tops of celery etc to make a stock that can be frozen as a base.

GrandTheftWalrus · 02/04/2022 22:20

DD didn't get on well with aldi formula as we did try that at the start. However we do buy their Wipes and nappies.

@RedHelenB she wasn't. I looked in her trolley and it was all morrisons the best stuff etc. We had a basket full of yellow sticker items.

Angryattrackandtrace · 02/04/2022 22:20

I have no advice OP… just wanted to send my love. I’m in a very fortunate position as don’t have children, but I have had to support my sister as she simply cannot cover the bills and feed her baby.

Your post brought tears to my eyes. I hope things turn around for you xx

pittameinhummus · 02/04/2022 22:20

I've been in your position op and I know how shit it is, I hope things get better for you and your family

ickky · 02/04/2022 22:21

@GrandTheftWalrus

I'm just looking at the bt broadband thing. I may enquire more into that on Monday. However I'm still in contract with sky and can't afford to pay off my contract but I can't afford my bills anymore.
I found this article, says if they increase (yearly price increase) you should be able to leave the contract without penalty fees. Might be worth looking in to.

www.uswitch.com/broadband/guides/sky-increasing-prices-what-consumers-can-do/

curlymom · 02/04/2022 22:21

It’s all crappy. Hugs x

pittameinhummus · 02/04/2022 22:21

@Angryattrackandtrace what a lovely sister you are Thanks

CheesecakeAddict · 02/04/2022 22:21

@kagerou he was probably the person behind the electric bike comment.

Sending solidarity, OP. I did my asda shop today, no alcohol or puddings and it came to £96. Up from £56. Then I had to fill up with petrol, that was another £63 (it was only 40 to fill it up from empty when I bought it last year).

Dd has a heart condition so I can't turn the heating off just yet until it warms up a little bit. I'm a single parent but I work 60 hours a week in a good job; I shouldn't be having to miss meals or considering food banks.

clairethewitch70 · 02/04/2022 22:21

Also I remember visiting somewhere - Totnes? Maybe? They had large planters with herbs in instead of flowers for people to help themselves. I think this is a great idea and wish councils would do this in more places.

DrBrennerFan · 02/04/2022 22:22

I’ve put my foot down time we get paid I’m filling § freezer with Iceland stuff, it’s shocking how prices have gone up,

worriedaboutmoney2022 · 02/04/2022 22:23

@Littlemissdan

So many people I know are in this situation - we've had a sudden inheritance which we plan to use as a deposit for a house as we are renting atm so trying not to dip into it but you aren't the first and won't be the last. We are (inheritance aside) in the same situation as trying not to spend that.

We budget very carefully and it's so hard when basic things have increased so much, not even anything fancy.

Afew years back when I was on maternity leave and my partner got made redundant if my family hadn't helped me I don't know what we'd have done. I was ashamed and embarrassed- I now know that my health visitor could have helped us with food and nappies etc but nobody publishes this information it's all on a very "need to know" basis.

I really hope councils don't stop the school holiday vouchers they're a lifeline to families x

Daffodils22 · 02/04/2022 22:25

@CocoPlum

Argh, that was supposed to quote the poster who said something about FSM vouchers for the holidays stopping ...
What! that’s appalling, a lot of restaurants in my area offered free lunch/meals for children when that debacle first happened.
PinkAndViolet · 02/04/2022 22:27

I was shocked when I walked round Sainsburys earlier.
£2.58 for a 6 packet of walkers crisps and £4.50 for a small box of breaded chicken. How the hell are people meant to cope?
I'm sorry OP, it's so difficult I know. X

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